WHAT MAKES A CHURCH…A CHURCH?

Gardencity - April 2, 2024

As we enter into this journey of “planting a church” a crucial starting point is that we define what we mean when we talk about “church.”

What is the church?

This is a question we often assume the answer to. Or perhaps we have been part of the church for so long we don’t even think to ask the question anymore. Or perhaps we are exploring or new to faith and church is simply where the Christians are. Perhaps we define it as a building, the place where we “go.” Or for many of us church is an event, a gathering of Christians, typically on a Sunday, when we sing some songs, hear a sermon, and pray.

The Problem we face in some of our presuppositions about the church is that Scripture tells us that we do not “go” to church and church is not just an “event.”

So what is the church? The term comes from the Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklesia), which means assembly or called-out ones. The word is used in different ways in the New Testament: house churches (Rom. 16:5), a church in an entire city (1 Cor. 1:2), in a region (Acts 9:31), the global church (Eph. 5:25), and the universal church (Matt. 16:18). The word church is also used to describe many images of the people of God. Here are some of the different images the Bible gives to help us understand the church:

THE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY

The local church is a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The community unites around the gospel of Jesus Christ. In obedience to the Word of God the church gathers regularly for preaching and worship, observe the biblical sacraments of baptism and communion, pursue holiness, fulfill the great commandment and the great commission, all for the glory of God.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).

There is unity among the community, and around the mission:

I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17.23).
. . . being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Romans 14:19).
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6).
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

THE CHURCH IS A FAMILY

We are God’s family (Ephesians 2:19-22). We are no longer outsiders, foreigners, or strangers, but members of God’s family and citizens of heaven. We belong to one another and are commanded to love and care for one another.
And all the members of God’s family who are with me . . . (Galatians 1:2). Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God (1 Peter 2:17). To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit (1 Peter 3:8).
Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

THE CHURCH IS A BODY

The church is pictured as a living organism which draws direction and nourishment from Christ. The body describes the inter-connectedness of the members as they care for one another and work together in an atmosphere of truth and love.
And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:22,23).
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it (1 Corinthians 12:27).
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent (Colossians 1:18).
. . . and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God (Colossians 2:19).

We are a body, not a business. Therefore, we serve the body of Jesus on the basis of our spiritual gifts. In an organization, maintenance is the focus. In an organism, ministry is the focus. The people are the ministers of the gospel.

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophesy, according to the proportion of his faith . . . (Romans 12:4-6).

THE CHURCH IS A FLOCK

We are “God’s people and the sheep of His pasture.” (Ps. 100:3) Christ, the Good Shepherd cares for us and leads us in His way. The metaphor of shepherd or pastor is used frequently to describe how spiritual leaders feed, care for and protect the flock of God’s people.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep . . . I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:11-15).

THE CHURCH IS A TEMPLE

The church is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Dwelling within the church, the Holy Spirit gives life to it. It is the Holy Spirit who conveys power to the church. The Spirit also produces a unity within the body. The Holy Spirit, dwelling within the church, also creates a sensitivity to the Lord’s leading. The Holy Spirit equips the body by dispensing gifts. Finally, the Holy Spirit makes the church holy and pure.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
…being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Eph. 2:21-22).

THE CHURCH IS A BRIDE

Christ is described as the bridegroom and the church as his bride. This speaks of the mutual love and commitment between Christ and the church. It is also associated with our expectation in waiting for Christ’s return.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready (Rev. 19:7).

THE CHURCH IS A FELLOWSHIP

The church experiences a shared life together where all things are held in common for the good of others and the mission of god. Fellowship – Κοινωνία (Greek) – literally means Commonness (holding things in common), Participation, Sharing, Association. God has gathered us into a fellowship. Not just to share thoughts, and ideas…but to share everything together. To have deep care and concern for one another.
Fellowship is this idea that we, as people of God, work together in all things that we do for the mutual benefit of everyone. Fellowship is this idea that everyone is welcome. It is this idea that we are in fellowship with one another and with God. That fellowship includes, but isn’t limited to: Table fellowship (or communion), worship, communal prayer, sharing of food and possessions, and welcoming one another in the name of God.
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need (Acts 4:32-35)
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver…He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others… (2 Cor. 9:7-14).
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:16).

From these images we can determine some key characteristics of what it means to be a church. For the sake of simplicity, I will highlight one basic definition:

DEFINITION OF A LOCAL CHURCH: GOD’S PEOPLE, SAVED BY GOD’S POWER AND FILLED WITH GOD’S PRESENCE, FOR GOD’S PURPOSES.

GOD’S PEOPLE (WHO WE ARE)
SAVED BY GOD’S POWER AND FILLED WITH GOD’S PRESENCE (WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND IS DOING)
FOR GOD’S PURPOSES (THE GOOD WORKS WE ARE CREATED TO DO IN JESUS CHRIST)

Meaning if you have come to Jesus and received the Spirit, you are part of Jesus’ body, the Church. In essence, the Church is not merely a building or an institution; it is a living, dynamic community of believers united by their faith in Jesus Christ. It exists to carry out God’s mission, reflecting His love, grace, and truth to the world. [1]

THE IMPORTANCE OF ORDER AND BALANCE

Now we must acknowledge that to define something does not mean we grasp the practicalities. Even reading through Scripture we can be prone to define the church primarily by what the church does, not who the church is. It is beautiful to see a church engaged in mission and activity. The church is fulfilling its purpose when it is serving the community and pursing justice and shalom. However, spiritual formation author Pete Scazzero warns us: “Our Activity for God can only flow from a life with God. We cannot give what we do not possess. Doing for God in a way that is proportionate to our being with God is the only pathway to a pure heart and seeing God.”[2]

We cannot give what we do not possess. That is such a fitting statement as we discuss defining the church in the context of church planting. I have found my temptation in this church planting journey is to focus on activity. What can the church do? And it is not just my temptation. So often the questions that come to me from people curious about the church plant are questions like: “Where we are going to meet? What kind of “worship” are we going to have? How will we impact the city? What ministry programs will we run? Questions focused on logistics and practicalities of doing ministry. Good questions…yet secondary questions. The reminder of Scazzero is consistent in my mind “We cannot give what we do not possess, Our Activity for God can only flow from a life with God.”

Simon Chan begins his book “Liturgical Theology” by asking what is the relationship between the church and creation: “Is the church to be seen as an instrument to accomplish God’s purpose in creation, or is the church the expression of God’s ultimate purpose itself?”[3] In other words, is the church to be defined by what it does–its activity–or what it is–its ontology (origin/being)?

As we read the story of Scripture we may come to think that the church is instated by Christ’s ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on his followers so that they may be empowered to be God’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. This would lead us to understand the church as an instrument for God’s purposes. The church is then defined by its activity or what it does.

However, we must admit God’s desire to be in relationship with those outside of himself precedes creation. Therefore, “God created the world in order that he might enter into a covenant relationship with humankind.”[4] Creation is the setting in which the church can be realized, in which God can have relationship with humanity. This would lead us to argue that “the church does not exist in order to fix a broken creation; rather, creation exists to realize the church.”[5] This idea is significant because the church is then defined first and foremost by its ontology or what it is. This leads Chan to conclude: “The Church’s primary mission, then, is to be itself, which is to be ‘Christ’ for the world.”[6] Identity comes before activity.

Scripture from the start gives the progression from “Being” to “Doing.” From the Genesis story we read “In the beginning was God” and then God creates. Being comes before doing. Who God is produced what God created. God created humanity in his image giving them an identity and a value before He called them to do anything. The pattern we see in Scripture is that the command to do something is always preceded by an identity in existence. Therefore, as image bearers of God, who we are comes before what we do.

You may notice now the progression in this basic definition of church: “God’s people, saved by God’s power and filled to with God’s presence, for God’s purposes. Origin and being come before doing. Identity comes before activity. Meaning, we are not simply defined by what we do, we are defined by who we are and where we come from. This progression and order are crucial in establishing a healthy church. Who we are becoming creates the foundation for what we are creating.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR GARDEN CITY CHURCH?

It means that we as a new church plant commit ourselves to the vision of:

GROWING TOGETHER FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE CITY

This is our expression of what it means to be a local church.

GROWING

Practicing the Way of Jesus as Apprentices who order our lives around 3 goals: to be with Jesus, to become like Jesus, and to do what Jesus did. It’s hard to cultivate growth, but the Bible exhorts us in Colossians 1:28 to admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom, “so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” Spiritual Formation is a foundational element to discipleship. We see Spiritual Formation happen when there is a willingness to be truly changed by the Spirit and the Scriptures. This requires vulnerability, honesty, self-awareness in the group.

TOGETHER

Building a community to intentionally connect people and families and institutions to the life-changing presence of God. The gospel calls us to authentic community. It is not Jesus and me, but Jesus and we. You cannot know God apart from community. You cannot grow and change deeply apart from community. The world cannot be transformed apart from community. Jesus tells us that the second greatest commandment is like the first – we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. In Acts 2:42-47 we see the first gospel community, and what we see is a group of people sharing lives devoted to love and sacrifice for one another. The vision of authentic community means sharing life, weeping and laughing, giving and receiving, confronting and comforting – all done in love.

FOR RENEWAL

Praying for more than a great church but a great city. A city where people are introduced to Jesus and fulfill their call of extending God’s kingdom of love, justice, and mercy. If God is a missionary God (and He is!), then we as His people are missionary people (2 Peter 3:9; Ezek. 18:32). Therefore, the church doesn’t just send missionaries; the church is part of pointing people to Christ’s kingdom (his rule and reign). To be a faithful loving church is to be a people on mission. Therefore, we exist to form practices and habits of missional engagement as part of the great commission (Matt 28:16-20).

[1] Jeff Vanderstelt, One-Eighty: A Return to Disciple-Making

[2] Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

[3] Simon Chan, Liturgical Theology

[4] Simon Chan, Liturgical Theology

[5] Simon Chan, Liturgical Theology

[6] Simon Chan, Liturgical Theology